SARASOTA, Fla. — The decision the Baltimore Orioles face with Ryan Flaherty was already one of the most difficult ones of the of the spring before major league camp began, and as the team’s days in Sarasota are whittled away, the 26-year-old utilityman has done nothing to make the organization’s choice any easier.

Last season, as the Orioles’ Rule 5 draft pick, the choice was more definitive. If the Orioles didn’t keep Flaherty on the roster for the entire season, they’d very likely lose him.

This year, Flaherty, a former Deering High of Portland star, can be optioned to the minor leagues. Given the experience he gained in 2012, the Orioles must decide whether it’s best for Flaherty to remain with the big league club as a multidimensional bench player or to go to Triple-A Norfolk to get regular at-bats in preparation to be an everyday player with the Orioles eventually.

SARASOTA, Fla. - Infielder Ryan Flaherty, the former Deering High standout, will start his second season with the Baltimore Orioles, who are close to finalizing their 25-man roster.

"Yeah, it's definitely exciting news," said Flaherty, who, as a Rule 5 pick last year was with the Orioles all season but can be sent to the minors this year. "To be able to help the team out, it was kind of my goal coming into camp, and I'm excited to get the opportunity."

PORTLAND -- The temperature reached into the 90s and the pool water at his parents' home looked inviting, so Ryan Flaherty dove in. Minutes later, younger brother Regan joined him in a game of pool basketball.

This is how Ryan Flaherty spent the All-Star break. The Baltimore Orioles' second-year second baseman returned home to Maine to relax.

Ups and downs for Mainer in majorsA strong work ethic guides Deering High grad Ryan Flaherty, who has gone from a starter to a reserve role for the Orioles.By Mike Lowe

PORTLAND – The temperature reached into the 90s and the pool at his parents' home looked inviting, so Ryan Flaherty dove in. Minutes later, his younger brother Regan joined him in a game of pool basketball.

Flaherty, the Baltimore Orioles' second-year second baseman, was at home in Portland this week to relax during the All-Star break.

"The season's nice," said Flaherty, a 2005 Deering High School graduate and one of two Mainers now playing Major League Baseball, "but you're going a million miles an hour for so long, sometimes it's nice to just sit here and do nothing."

BALTIMORE - Ryan Flaherty of Portland hit a pair of two-run homers, Jonathan Schoop had a solo shot in his big league debut and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-5 on Wednesday night to snap a six-game skid and clinch their second straight winning season...

Ryan Flaherty fields some curveballs from Portland eighth-gradersThe Baltimore Orioles player visits his alma mater to talk about friends, video games and his most memorable MLB moment.By Mark Emmert

Ryan Flaherty was being peppered in his old Portland school cafeteria Thursday. The eighth-graders at Lyman Moore Middle School were getting their first look at the famous alumnus, a baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles, and they were clamoring for insight. The second question knocked Flaherty off his feet like a Mariano Rivera brushback pitch...

Former Deering High player proves useful to OriolesRyan Flaherty, who plays many positions, may start the season at third base.By Tom Chard

Ryan Flaherty continues to prove useful, perhaps to open the season as the starting third baseman. Ryan Flaherty’s ability to play all the infield positions has helped the Baltimore Orioles make spring training run a little more efficiently. The Portland native, in his third season with the team, has moved to the left side of the infield to play third base...

“Anybody who doesn’t get what Ryan brings just isn’t watching,” said Showalter before Wednesday night’s game at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. “He is very consistent, you know what you’re going to get every day.